Telephone system



A. B. SPERRY.`

TELE'PHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION HLED1uLY2s,1917.

Patented 06f. u, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. B. SPERRY.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 26.1911.

Patented @et M, WZL

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2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/f Ven for.' ///M/f 5. Spa/ffy ARTHUR E. SPERRY, OF YORK, N. Y., .ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRC C0- I PANY, INCORPORATED, 0F NEW YORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION 0E NEW YUM:` tif rrnznrnonn SYSTEM.

Laaaaae.

i Application ined July 2e,

T o all whom it may conce m:

Be it known that l. ARTHUR B. SPERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing'at New York, in the county of New York and State ot New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Telephone Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to telephone systems, and more particularly to number-indicating devices employed in such systems.

It is the purposeI of this invention to provide means controlled from a distant point for indicating to an operator the designation of the wanted line, as well as the designation ot the trunk over which the calling line has been extended to the operators position. Various features will appear from the detailed specification and claims.

The drawings, with Figure 1 placed above Fig. 2. diagrammatically represent an A operators position at one exchange, and a B operators position at a second exchange. A printing device, shown in Fig. 2, is located at the last-mentioned exchange and is controlled in part by impulses from the sending device at the `A operators position in the first exchange, and in part by an interrupting device located in the second eX- cliange and which is individual to the trunk line.

lln the course of the specification reference will be made to a non-niimerical switch for connecting an idle printing device t0 the selected trunk. rll`his non-numerical switch may be of any vpreferred form, but for the purpose of this disclosure a line switch, of

the type disclosed in the patent to Keith No.4

1,151,543 of August 24, 1915, is employed.

It is believed that the invention will best be understood by describing the method of extending a calling line from the A operators position to a wanted subscribers line.` Let it be assumed that the A operator has inserted her answering plug into the jack of the calling line and has ascertained in the well-known manner the number of the wanted line. rl`he operator thereupon inserts the plug 5 into the jack 6 of an idle trunk line'leading to the distant exchange. A circuit is thereupon completed for energizing the relay 7, which circuit may be traced from grounded battery, windingof relay 7, outer right-hand armature and back contact of relay 8, conductor 9, lower arma- Specification of lLetters Patent. Ptnmmgdl @Qt WL 119211 1917. Serial No. 182,967.

ture and back Vcontact of relay 10, tip conductor 1l of the selected trunk, tip Ofijack 6, tip of plug 5, the key spring and its contact 12, right-hand Winding of repeating coil 13, to ground. The relay 7 attracts its armature and by so doing closes an energizing circuit for the pull-down winding of relay 8 from grounded battery, left-hand winding ofrelay 8, armature and contact of relay 7, to ground. The relay 8 attracts its armatures and its left-hand armature causes the plunger 1.4 of the line switch to connect an .idle printing device at the B operators position with the selected trunk leading from the ,Aoperators position.- When the plunger 14 1s operated to bring the various contact springs which .it controls into engagement, a holding circuit for the relay 8 is closed from grounded battery, right-hand winding of relay 8, contact springs 23 and 24, conductor 25, inner right-hand back co-ntact and armature of relay 200, winding of relay 201, to ground. Relay 201 attracts its armatures and a circuit is completed from ground atthe left armature of this relay, spring 271. right-hand windings of relays 204 and 205 to grounded battery. The relays 204 and 205 are differentially wound and the right-hand windings of these relays are so wound that in response to current of one direction relay' 204 is operated and relay 205 is inert, while in response to current of a reverse direction relay 205 is actuated and relay 204 is inert." The relav 8 is thus energized in series with relay 201 and maintains the plunger 14 in operated position. Springs 26 land 27 when brought into engagement close a break point in the conductor leading from the tip conductor 11, and the springs 28 and 29 are similarly brought into engagement to close a break point in the conductor leading" to the ring conductor of the selected trunk, which conductors in series form a signaling circuit leading from the A operators position to the printing device.

Theoperator, after depressing key 22 to connect an idle sending device to the cord circuit taken for use, manipulates her sending device to transmit various series of impulses corresponding to the designation of the wanted subscribers line.y The sending device may be of any type in which impulse springs 15 and 16 are separated to transmit a series of impulses, at the close of which series, springs 17 and 18 are brought into engagement when the finger of the operator engages a stop or trigger. As will be seen from a further description of the operation of the sending device, the engagement of the trigger springs 17 and 18 operates to reverse the direction of the current flow in the signaling circuit to control the changeover op'- erations of the printing device.

Let it be assumed that the number of the Wanted line is No. 2579, party R, and that the trunk selected for use is No. 15. To indicate this number at the B operators posit-ion, the A- operator actuates her sending device to cause two interruptions in the signaling circuit at the impulse springs 15 and 16. The signaling circuit in which these interruptions take place extends from grounded battery, winding -of relay 19, impulse springs 16 and 15, right-hand armature and back contact of relay 20, contact 21 and spring of the key 22, tip of the plug 5, tip of jack 6, tip conductor 11, armature and back contact of relay 31, contact springs 26 and 27, conductor 203, left-hand winding of relay 204, left-hand winding of relay 205, conductor 206, contact springs 29 and 28, left-'hand armature and back contact of relay 31, ring conductor 30, ring contact of jack 6, ring contact of plug 5, contact 33 of key 22, left-.hand armature and baclrcontact of relay 20, to ground. In response to each opening of the contact springs 15 and 16 for transmitting the digit 2, the relay 205, which is responsive to current in one direction vibrates its armature to close an energizing circuit for stepping magnet 207 of the printing device. This circuit is traceable from grounded battery, winding of relay 207, conductor 208, winding of slow-release relay 209, armature and contact of relay 205, armature and back contact of relay 204, spring 271, left-hand armature and front contact of relay 201, to ground. In response to each of these impulses, the stepping magnet 207 attracts its armature, causing the pawl 208 to engage the ratchet wheel 281 to rotate the shaft 210 and type wheel 211 carried thereby. lVhen the operator closes the trigger springs 17 and 18 after transmitting the two impulses of the first digit, the relay 20 is energized over a circuit completed from grounded battery, Winding of this relay, trigger springs 17 and 18 to ground. The relay 20 attracts its armatures and by so doing reverses the direction of current owing in the signaling circuit, previously described. In response to this impulse, the relay 204 is actuated, While the relay 205 remains inert. When relay 204 attracts its armature it closes a circuit from ground, left-hand armature and front contact of relay 201, spring 271, armature and front contact of relay 204, left-hand armature and` back contact of relay 212, Winding of relay 213 to grounded battery. Relay 213 attracts its armatures and at its left-hand armature closes a locking circuit for itself from battery in series with relay 212, back contact and armature of relay 214, spring 271, left-hand armature and front contact of relay 201, to ground. The relay 201 also maintains its armature actuated or an interval of time suilicient to permit the slowreleasing relay 209 to denergize, which relay at its armature and back contact closes an operating circuit for the printing magnet 215. This circuit may be traced from grounded battery, winding of relay 215, conductor 216, left-hand back contact and armature of relay 217, springs 218 and 219, which are brought into engagement as soon as the shaft 210 has rotated from its normal position, conductor 220, back contact and armature of relay 209, spring 271, left-hand front contact of relay 201, to ground. The printing magnet 215 attracts its armature, and by means of the arm 221 carried by its armature, brings the paper tape 222 into engagement with the positioned type wheel to print the first digit. The armature of the printing magnet 215 when attracted allows the springs 223 and 224 to come into engagement, thereby completing a circuit from ground through conductor 225, winding of relay 217, to grounded battery, and in parallel through the right-hand contact and armature of relay 213, winding of relay 214, to grounded battery. The relays 214 and 217 attract their armatures and the relay 214 at its armature and back contact, interrupts the holding circuit of the relays 212 and 213. The relay217 in attracting its armatures closes a` locking circuit for itself from grounded battery, left-hand front contact and armature of this relay, off-normal springs 218 and 219, conductor 220, back Contact and armature of relay 209, spring 271, left-hand armature and front contact of relay 201, to ground. At the right-hand armature of relay 217 an interrupting circuit is completed for the stepping magnet 207 for the purpose of stepping the type Wheel 211 to its normal position. This circuit extends from grounded battery, winding of relay 207, contact springs 226 which are opened each time that the magnet 207 attracts its armature, conductor 227, righthand front contact and armature of relay 217, off-normal springs 218 and 219. to ground over the circuit previously described at the left-hand armature and front contact of relay 201. The stepping magnet 207 continues to actuate its armature and thereby advance the type wheel 211 until this wheel is restored to its normal position, at which time a projection 228 carried by the shaft 210 opens the off-normal contact springs 218 and 219 and closes the springs 229 and 230. This operation is repeated for each of the station.

digits 5,- 7 and 9. ySince thedesired line is a arty line, it is necessary to indicate to the operator' the designation of the wanted This indication is also controlled from the A operators position.

'For controlling the printing of the stations designation, .the operator first :depresses the key 32 once. This action together with the closure of the trigger springs 17 ground at the armature' of relay 201.

and 18 at the close of the units series of impulses, causes the relay 20 to actuate its ar'` matures twice, and thereby twice reverse the direction of current flowing over the signaling circuit. versal of currentwhen the relay 204 attracts its armature, the relay 213 is energized over a circuit closed from grounded battery,

winding of this re1ay,.lefthand back contact and armature of relay 212, front contact and armature of relay 204, spring 271, to ground at the left-hand armature and front contact of relay 201. tures and at its left-hand armature closes a locking circuit for itself from' ground through the winding of relay 212 lnserles, back contact and armature of relay 214,1?0 n response to the second reversal of current, a circuit is now closed from ground, lefthand armature and front contact of relay 201, spring271, armature and front contact of relay 204, left-hand armatureand front contact of relay 212, right-hand armature and back contact of relay 232, winding of relay 233, to grounded battery. The relay 233 attracts its armature and at its righthand armature and contact closes a locking circuit for itself from grounded battery through the winding of relay 232 in series back contact aridarmature-of relay 214, at

' the left-hand front 'contactV andv armature of relay 201, to ground. When the relay 232 attractsits armature it closes a circuit from ground through conductor `250, winding of thetype Wheel shift magnet 234, to grounded battery. The type wheel shift magnet 234 attracts its armature and by means of an arm 235 carried by this armature, elevates the shaft 210 to bring the letters of the type wheel into operatlve relation to the paper tape 222. The operator now transmits positive impulses corresponding to the wanted station. l

Let it be assumed ythat it is necessary to transmit three` impulses to indicate the station R. Under this assumption the stepping magnet 207 advances the type wheel 211 and the brush arm 280 carried by the brush shaft three steps or positions. At the close of this series of impulses,when the relay 209 denergizes, the printing magnet 215 is again energized lto cause the arm 221 to bring the paper 222l into engagement 'wlth the type wheel 211. When the printing magnet 215 attractsits armature to print the letter cor- Tn response to the first re- Relay 213 attracts its arma` responding to the desired station and party line, thel springs`223 andv 224 are brought into engagement to close a circuit from ground through conductor ,225, right-hand armature and front contact of relay 213, Winding of relay 214, to grounded battery, The relay 214 attracts its armature and interrupts the locking circuit of the relays 212, 213, 232 and 233. The relay 217 is again energized in parallel with relay 214 to cause the stepping magnet 207 to return the type-wheel 211 to its normal position.

Let it be assumed that the trunk line seized for connecting the A operators position With the B operators position is known as the No.- 15 trunk. Under this assumption it is necessary to cause the type Wheel 211 to be rotated once and later five times in order to` indlcate to the B operator the trunk line over which the call is to be extended. At the B operators position there is provided an interrupting device, generally designated 33. This interrupting device is individual to each trunk line and comprises a constantly rotating shaft 34 on which there is mounted a cam 36 With which an arm 37 engages to control the operation of the springs 38 and 39. The cam 36 is provided with an' insulated projection 64 which closes Contact 65 to cause the energization of the left-hand winding of relay 31. The relay 31 controls 4the connection of the interrupting device 33 to the signaling circuit, including the windings of relays 204 an-d 205. The relay 31 attracts its armatures only when both of its windings are simultaneously energized, but when energized the right-hand winding is sufficient to maintain its armatures at` tracted. This insures the timely transmission of the impulses designating the trunk seized,` and also insures that the interrupting device is connected to the signaling circuit ,ignation isbeing printed, a circuit is completed from grounded battery, right-hand winding of relay 31, contact springs 40 and 41, conductor 42, inner left-hand armature and front contact of relay 232, conductor l225, contact springs 223 and 224, to ground.

It should be noted that the lrelay 43 of Fig. 1 and relay 237 of Fig. 2 are energize-d over a 4circuit in parallel with the righthand winding of relay 31. The relays 43 and 237 attract their armatures but relay 31 does not attract its armature until its left-hand winding is also energized, which occurs when the insulated projection 64 closes contact 65. `Whenl contact 65 is closed a circuit is completed from ground through'contactv65 over conductor 45, in-

ner right-hand armature and front contact of relay 8, left-hand Winding of relay 31, to grounded battery. Since both Windlngs of relay 31 are simultaneously energized, this` relay attracts its armatures. As soon as the relay 237 attracted its armature it completed a locking Vcircuit for itself over a circuit traceable from grounded battery, Winding of relay 237, its armature and front contact, spring 271, front contact and armature Aof relay 201 to ground. The relay 237 by attracting its armature applies ground to conductor 42 to maintain the relays 3l and 43 energized. As the arm 37 engages the'various notches 46 the signaling circuit is closed from grounded battery, lower contact of the spring 38, inner righthand front contact and armature of relay -After one impulse has been transmitted, the

arm 37 engages the projection 47 on cam 36 to reverse the direction of the flow of current over the signaling circuit. In response to this operation the relay 205 remains inert. In response to the actuation of the armature of relay 204, the relay 213 is energized and in turn the relay212, as

v'described The relay 213 atracts its armature, and when the springs 223 and 224 are brought into engagement by the operation of the printing magnet, the relay 214 attracts its armature to interrupt the holding circuit for relays 212 and 213. The relay 217, which energizes in parallel with relay 214, controls the stepping magnet 207 to bring about the restoration of the type wheel to its normal position. The arm 37 of the impulse transmitting device then engages 'and relay 205 remains inert.

notches 44 of the cam 36 to transmit five impulses. These impulses control the printing device in the manner above described. These impulses operate the. printing device to print the numeral 5 on the tape 222, and when the arm 37 engages the projections 70 three impulses of opposite polarity are vtransmitted over the signaling circuit. In response to these three last mentioned impulses. the relay 204 attracts its armature In response to the first reversal of current relay 213 is energized as described, and then locks itself up in series With the relay 212. Relay 212 attracts its armatures and in response to the second impulse, relay 233 is energized and attracts its armature and thereby completes a locking circuit for itself in series with the relay 232 to ground at the left-liand armature of relay 201. Vith the relay 232 energized, the relay 200 is operated over a circuit extending from grounded battery, Winding of relay 200, right-hand front con tart and armature of relay 232, left-hand front contact and armature of relay 212, front contact and armature of relay 204, to ground at the armature of relay 201. The relay'200 when Voperated closes a locking circuit for itself from grounded battery, through its winding, left-hand armature and spring 271, left-hand front contact and armature of relay 201, to ground. At the inner right-hand armature of `relay 200, the relay 201 is maintained energized over a circuit noW extending from ground, winding of this relay, inner right-hand armature and front contact of relay 200, right-hand armai ture and front contact of relay 212, offnormal springs 273 to grounded battery. These springs are closed until the paper tape is rotated and the printed number appears before the operator, at which time the insulated knob 274 opens the contact springs 273. As long as the relays 200 and 201 are energized, the magnet 275 operates to move the tape from behind the type Wheel and into such position that it can be readily observed by the operator. 'The operating circuit for the magnet 275 extends from grounded battery. Winding of magnet 275, springs 226, which are open each time the magnet attracts its armature, conductor 277, left-band armature of relay 200, contact spring 271, left-hand front contact and armature of relay 201, to ground. IVlien the tape 222 has been properly positioned, the insulated projection 274 opens the contact springs 273, with the result that the relay 201 denergizes. lVhen relay 201 de'energizes, the relays 8, 200, 212` 215, 232 and 233. which were controlled by said relay, are deenergized. The printing device and its controlling circuits, as Well as the line switch for seizing an idle printing device, are now in normal condition.

At the time relay 31 attracted its arma- 'tures the slow-releasingrelay 71 is energized over a circuit completed from grounded battery, winding of this relay, outer right-hand front contact and armature of relay 31, to ground` and in parallel with the relay 71, the left-hand winding of relay 72 is simultaneously energized. When the relay 31 denergizes, after the impulses for printing the'trunk designation have been sent, the relay 10 is energized over a circuit traceable from grounded battery, Winding 0f relay l0, front contact and armature of relay 71, outer back contact and armature of relay 31, to ground. The rclay 1() attracts its armatures and at its npper armature and front contact closes a cirieaaae cuit from grounded battery, winding of relay 60, left-hand windin of repeating coil 73, upper armature and ront contact of relay 10, trunk conductor 11, ,tip contacts of .jack 6 and plug 5, contact 12, right-hand winding of repeating coil 13, to ground. The relay 60 attracts its armatures and at its left-hand armature and front contact closes a circuit for maintaining the relays 71 and 72 energized. f s

It will be remembered that when the type wheel 211 was positioned to print the designation of the desired station the arm 280 was advanced three steps to bring it into engagement with contact 237. At this time it will be remembered that the relay 43 holds its armatures in an actuated position, with the result that a circuit is completed from grounded battery, winding of relay 50, conductor 51, inner armature and front contact of relay'43, conductor .238 lower armature and back contact of relay 239, which at this time is inert, contact 237, brush arm 280, conductor 240, armature and front contact ofrelay 237, spring 271, left-hand front contact and armature of relay 201, tol

ground. Relay 50 attracts its armatures preparatory to applying positive ringing current to the selected party line and comletes a locking circuit for itself through 1ts right-hand armature. When the B operator inserts the plu` 51 into the jack 52 of the desired party ine, a circuit is completed from ground, winding of relay 53,A

sleeve of jack 52, sleeve of plug 51, windings of relays 54, 55, lamp `56, to grounded battery. 'The relays 53, 54 and 55 are energized and lamp 56 is lighted in this cir- 'lhe relay 54` actuates its armaturesI cuit. to close a break point4 in the connecting cord circuit. The relay at its inner front contact and armature completes an energizing circuit for the relay 57 from grounded battery, winding of this relay, armature and back contact of relay 58, armature and contact of marginal ringing relay 59, inner front Contact and armature of relay 55, right-hand armature and front contact ot relay 60, windings of relays.l55 and 54, sleeve ,of plug 51, sleeve of `iack 52, `winding of f relay 53, to ground. The relay-57 attracts its armatures to apply ringing current to the party line over a circuit traceable from positive source of ringing current 61, right and winding of relay 59, armature `and front contact of relay 50, left-hand back contact land armature of relay 62, lower front contact and armature of relay 57, ring of plug 51, ring of jack 52, through the substation of party R, tip of jack 52, tip of plug 51, contact spring and armature of relay 54, upper armature and front Contact of relay 57, left-handarmature and back contact of relay 63, to ground. When the subscriber at station' R removes his receiver from its hook, the marginal relay 59 attracts its armature and the relay 58, which was previously shunted, now attracts its armature and closes a locking circuit for itself from grounded battery, front contact, armature and winding of relay 58, inner front contact and armature of relay 55, right-hand armature and front contact of relay 60, windings of relays 55 andv 54, to ground at the relay 53. At this time the relay 57 is short-circuited and retracts its armatures to'disconnect the ringing` current and to render the connecting cord circuit continuous. Lamp 56 is also shunted at this time. v

At the close of the conversation the supervisory relays 78 and 79 inform the A and B operators that they are to disestablish the connection.

In this-disclosure a trunk line whose tip and ring conductors are respectively designated 11 and 30 is shown connectingthe A and B operators positions. It will be understood that in practice a plurality of such trunks are employed. It is also within the scope of this invention to employ line switches or other non-numerical switches to select an idle trunk for interconnecting the above mentioned positions. The broken portion of conductors l11 and 30 indicates the point at which these line switches may be inserted.

lf for any reason the A operator abandons the call by removing the plug 5 from the jack 6 before sending a complete series of lmpulses, means are provided for releasing the line switch and for restoring the printing device to its normal condition. This means comprises a fast-acting relay 75, a slow-acting relay 76 and an interrupting device 77. The relays and 76 are energized in parallel through the sleeve conductor `of jack 6 and sleeve of plugf to ground, as soon as the plu 5 is inserted in jack 6. When this connection is disestablished, the relay 75 immediately denergizes and retracts its armatures. rlhe relay 76, however, which is slow'to release, maintains its armatures attracted for a brief interval after the ,relay 75 is denergized. This serves to connect the interrupting device 77 to the signaling circuit above mentioned, with the result that two or more impulses of current of such direction as to effect the release of the line switch and the printing 120 device, are transmitted.

What is claimed is: v

1. ln a telephone system an operators position, an incoming line leadin to said position, a plurality of outgoing, lines leading 'from said position, an indicating device at said position controllable from a distant point for indicating the designation 'of a wanted out-going line, and continuously movablemeans individual to said'incoming 130 line for opera-ting said device to indicate the ndesignation of said incoming line.

2.: In a telephone system, an operators position, an incoming line leading to said position, a plurality of out-going lines leading from said position, a printing device selectively controllable from a distant point for indicating the designation of the wanted out-going line, and continuously movable means individual-to said incoming line for operating said printing device to indicate the designation of said incoming line.

In a telepohne system, an operators position an incoming line' leading to said position, a plurality of out-goingllines leading from said position, a printing dev ice selectively controllable over said incoming line for indicating the number of the Wanted out-going line, and means for reversing the current flowing over said incoming line to control the operation of said printing device.

4'?. In a telephone system, a plurality of operators positions, telephone lines .connecting said operators positionsxoutgoing lines leading from one of said positions. an indieating device at the last mentioned position and controllable from a second operators position to indicate the designation of the Wanted out-going line, and. means beyond the control of said second operators position and individual to each telephone line and connectable to said indicating device for indicating the designation of the telephone line. taken for use.

5. In a telephone system, an A operators position, a B operators position, means including a trunk line for interconnecting said positions, a plurality of out-going lines leading from said B operators position, a device for indicating the designation of a Wanted out-going line, and for indicating the designation of said trunk line, means beyond the control of the A operators positionffor operating said device to indicate the designation of said trunk line, and means for selectively operating said indicating device, to vindicate the designation of the Wanted outgoing line.

Y 6. In a telephone system, an A operators position, a B operators position, means including telephone lines for interconnecting vsaid positions, a plurality of out-going lines leading to said B operators position, an indicating device at said B operators position, means operated at a distant point tor causing said indicating device to indicate the designation of the wanted out-going line, and means beyond the control ot the A operators position and individual to the telephone line employed in interconnectingr said positions for indicatingr the designation of the last mentioned line.

7. In a telephone system, an A operators position, a B operators position, means including telephone lines for interconnecting said positions, a plurality of out-going lilies leading from said B ope-rators position, a printing device at the last mentioned position, means at said A operators position tor directively setting said printing device to print the designation of' the wanted outgoing line, and means beyond the control of the A operators position individual to the telephone line employed in interconnectingr said positions for printing thedesignation of the last mentioned line. V

8. In a telephone system. an operator`s position, an incoming line leading to said position, a plurality of outgoing lines leading from said position, a printing surface at said position, means operable to print; the

designation ot' a wanted line upon said surface, means at a distant point for transmitting series of impulses to control the operation of the 4last named means, means tor returning said last named means to normal after each series of impulses, and means individual to said incoming line t'or operating said last named means to indicate the designation of said incoming line.

9. In a telephone system. an operatmilt position, an incoming line leading to said position, a plurality of outgoing lines lea-,iing from said position, an indicating device at said position controllable from a distant point for indicating the designation of a Wanted outgoing line, means for reversing the current flowing over said incoming line whereby to control the opeiation of said indicating device, and means for operating said device to indicate the designation of said incoming line.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribel my name this 20th day of July, A'. D., 1917.

ARTHUR B. SPERR Y. 

